Cigar-bunching machine



(No Model.) l 5 Sheets-Sheet 1. G. L. WESTMAN 8v J. DELARUE.

` GIGAR BUNCHING MACHINE. No. 446,989. Patented Peb. 24, 1891.

WITNESSES 'INVENTOR A. ifi/w l Y 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

G. L. WESTMAN 8v J. DELARU-E.

' GIGAR BUNGHING MACHINE.

Maf/L .4,5

, wrrNEssI-:s

(No Model.)

- 5 sheets-sheet 3. G. L. WESTMAN 81; J. DELARUE. GIGAR BUNGHING MACHINE.

10,446,989 Patented Feb. 24,1891.

WITNESSES lINVEN'I'OR 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

Pate ted Feb. 24,1891.

mvEurTxoR (No Model.)

G. L. WESTMAN 8v J. DELARUE.

GIGAR BUNGHING MACHINE.

(NoModel.) 5sneets-sneen 5. G. L. WESTMAN 8v J. DELARUB.

CIGAR BUNOHING MACHINE.

N0, 446,989. Patented Feb. 24,1891.

31411 @who z @VH1/Leones @tto zn m UNITED STATES I PATENTl OFFICE.

GEORGE I.. -wEsTMAN AND JOSEPH DELARUE, oE'RIeHMoND, VIRGINIA.

CIGAR-BUNCHING MACHINE.

SPIEIGIIECATION4 forming part of Letters Patent No..4l46,989, dated February 24, 1891. Application tiled November 15, 1889. Serial No. '$30,267. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that we, GEORGE L'. XVESTMAN and JOSEPH DELARUE, citizens of the United States of America, residing at Richmond, in the county of Henrico and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cigar-Bunching Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein `to the accompanying drawings.

Our invention relates to cigar-bunching machines; and the object of our improvements is, among other things, first, to provide a machine for forming what is known in the trade as long-iiller cigarsthat is, a cigar in which the iilling runs lengthwise of the cigar and of the leaf; second, to provide amachine by which cigars may be formed of one uniform size and weight, and, third, to reduce wastage and loss in their manufacture to the lowest possible degree. 4We attain these objects by the use ofthe mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is aside elevation of our machine. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of same. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional View immediately in front of the rollers X and X. Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view in detail of the mechanism denominated the receiving-box, the plunger, the feed-belts, tc. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the mechanism denomi` nated the packerjwhieh consists of the parts G and G', the upper half G being the cover and the lower half G being the bottom, each separate part being composed of a single curved longitudinal seamed edges and adapted to slide the one uponthe other, G over and G Within upon said longitudinal edges, a section of the space inclosed between the top and bottom forming the outline plan of a cigar. The figure shows also the lower feed-belt G2 and the frame C', to which the said packer is hinged.k It will be seen that the packer is a longitudinal elliptical-shaped box, one end being closed, the cover G being free to be slipped 1ongitudi, nally in either direction: Fig. 6 is a sectional detail drawing of the mechanism denominated the receiving-box,7 detached from the machine and top plan view of part-of the machine. Fig. l7 isa detail perspective view of the receiving-box from the side next the piece of metal having` standards attached to the table B near their centers, their ends next to the roller X being hollowed out, as shown in'Fig. 5, and adapted to rest upon and against the journals of said roller, their opposite ends `carrying a roller journaled in slots and in movable slides, said slides being moved by the screws O at the end of the4 frame to regulate the tension of said feed-belt. The upper frame O is an eX- act counterpart of the frame C above de-v scribed, but is not' supported on standards. Its ends rest upon and against the journals X. Their opposite ends carry a roller journaled in slots and'in movable slides adapted to be moved by the screws O at the end of the frame to regulate the tension of the feed-belt, the frame and belt resting upon the lower frame and belt and being free to swing against the journal of the roller X as a center, being held thereto by the tension of the feed-belt. Frame C may be raised and stood up out of the way against the frame R when the tobaccofrom the packer is being placed upon the lower feed-belt, and then it is laid down to hold the' tobacco in place, upon which itwill then rest, the tobacco being between the upper and lowerfeed-belts. Said feed-belts move in the same direction-viz., toward the rollers X and X.

XVe will now describe the rollers X and X. Said rollers are journaled in the y upright frames R, one above the other. The journals of the lower roller X are xed and do not move up or down, while the journals of the upper roller X are journaled in movable boxes set in the side of said frames R and are connected with the screws T at the top of said upright frames, said screws being adaptedto raise said boxes, by means of which the distance between the rollers and feed-belts may be regulated. The journals of the rollers ex- IOO tend through the sides of said upright frames R and are adapted to carrythe cog-wheels O2, keyed thereto, the journal of the opposite end of the lower roller X being adapted to carry the ratchet-wheel N, keyed thereto, upon which the pawl N2 operates, as hereinafter described. The cog-wheels O2 are adapted to engage each other in gear, and the movemept of the ratchetwheelN' will turn both rollers, so that the respective belts in contact with the tobacco will move in the same direction, carrying the tobacco upon the cutting-ledge Y and through the open side into the receivingbox U, hereinafter described.

rlhe ratchet-wheel N is operated by the pawl N2 on part Q, which is connected to the lever Q2 by thebar Q', as shown. The lever Q2 is attached to the side of the frame A, its

lower end being bifurcated and resting in a notch on the periphery or edge v of the quadrant l. The rim of said quadrant acts as a guide and the notch engages the lever in the fork, the opposite end of said lever being connected by the bar Q to the part Q, that car-A ries the pawl N2. As lthe quadrant is ret Volved by pressing down the treadle, the

lower end of said lever will be carried in the same direction with the quadrant until it slips from the notch, where it will remain stationary, the rim of the quadrant sliding in the fork. The upper end ot said lever will be thrown backward, and by means of the connecting-bar Q' will engage the part that carries the pawl N2, which will actuate the ratchet-wheel N', which in turn will move the cog-wheels O2, causing the feed-belts to m'ove and feed the tobacco onto the ledge Y and into the receiving-box U. As the treadle is raised and the quadrant returns toits nor mal position the notch engages the lever Q2, bringing itto its former position, the pawl N2 sliding over the notches in the ratchetwheel in an opposite direction, said Wheel remaining at rest.

The quadrant l and its other connections will be describedfarther on.

D represents a raised frame attached to the table B, supporting a top and carrying the carriage H, having the bunching-roller X2 journaled therein, said carriage being moved by means of an arm attached to the quadrant Z in connection with a bar similar to bar Q', already described, one end being connected to said arm, the other end passing through a slot in table B and connecting with said carriage, as shown. Said arm has a spur projecting from its end, at right. angles to which one end of the said connecting-bar is attached.

F is a bnnching-apron having its opposite` ends attached to the ends of the table supported by the frame D, having a slack in the middle to fall down into a cross-slot in the rolling-table, forming the pocket f.

E represents a mold-board containing matrices adapted to' receive the cigar-bunches or cigars. v

Maese E' represents the carriage for the mold board. y

I represents the treadle, by means of which the power is applied in operating the machine.

K represents a frame, which is attached to the ends of a vertical recipi'ocating'cutter or knife S. Said knife moves up and down in slots iu the side of the upright frame R, having its ends extending through said frames, so that the ends of the frame K may pass over the ends of the knife, which is rounded to form journals, so that the ends of Vthe frame may move as a pitman thereon. The opposite end of the frame K is connected to the treadle l by means of the rod 7c by a washer and nut through a slotin treadle I, as shown at n.

L represents a chain, one end being connected to the edge or periphery of the quadrant lfand the other end connected with the treadle Il s It will be observed that the frame K is attached directly to the treadle by means of the rod 7c, as shown, and that consequently it must descend in unison with the treadle, and that so, also, the quadrant l must revolve or move on its center in unison with the treadle, being connected, as described, by the chain L to said treadle.

The parts all being connected in the manner described and set forth, by pressing down the treadle the quadrant will immediately begin to turn on its center. At the same time the lever Q2, having its bifurcated end resting in a notch in therim of the quadrant, will be actuated and pass out of the notch and,

remain at rest during the further downward movement of the treadle. At the same time said lever, by'reason of its connection with the part that carries the pawl N2, will have actuated the ratchet-wheel N', which in turn will have moved the cog-wheels O2, thus moving the feed-belts and feeding the tobacco. All this will take place on the first quarter or first third of the downward movement of the treadle. On the return of the quadrant to its normal position the lever Q2 will be carried in theopposite direction, thus moving the pawl N2 over` the notches in the ratchet-wheel N', while said ratchet-wheel remains at rest, the bifurcated end of said lever falling into. said notch, as at first.

When the movement of the treadle and quadrant begins, as above described, and at the same time with said movement two other.

parts of' the machine will be moved, as fol- `lows': The reciprocating cutterwill begin to descend; but as its movement is vert-ical to the treadle, and having direct connection thereto, it is much slower than the movement of the parts which feed the tobacco, and hence the knife performs its oice during the last third of the downward movement of tho treadle, and 1n point of time long after the tobacco has been fed, the tobacco havingbeen IOO IIO

fed during the first third of the downward v movement, and; second, the movement of the frame H, with its bunching-roller, which begins with the downward movement of the treadle and the movement of the quadrant and continues to pass over the frame D and the bunching-table in regular progression and so long as the quadrant moves in that direction. As soon as the pressure is removed from the treadle the weight or ball M on the end of the lever m., being attached to the quadrant 2 as shown, will raise the treadle and bring the parts back to their normal positions.

M is a weight or ball at the end of the leverm, said lever being connected to the quadrant Z, as sho wn. y e

Ve will now describe the receiving-box U, which is a device for receiving the tobacco from the feed-belts when severed by the cutter to be depositedkin the pocket f.

The feed-box is composed of several separate parts adapted to operate together automatically. It extends across in front of the rollers X and X', presenting a perpendicular open side to the feed-belts, through which the severed tobacco is delivered. It is secured in vertical ways, which are fastened in a suitable manner to the uprightframes R. Itrests upon yielding springs W,'which are adapted to hold its bottom on a line with the cuttingledge Y, and it is adapted to be moved downward by pressure and slides in said vertical ways and is automatically returned to its normal position by the action of said springs. The feed-box has a front `side, which is curved near the bottom laterally downward and inward to meet the line of the open side and formingthe bottom, the curved portion (or bottom) being formed by several longitudinal strips of metahwith edges hinged together and adapted to move up or down in grooves in the end pieces of said box,.said end pieces having the proper curve, so as to come on a line with said open side. The said movable bottom, composed ot longitudinal strips hinged as described, we denominate the shutter, and designate it in the drawings by the letter U.

The open side of the feed-box is adapted to be closed bg means of the metallic slide S', and the cover is formed by means of the wooden follower -Usaid slide and follower being-attached as a cross-head to the lower end of the plunger V, by which they are operated. The plunger V and its cross-head, being part of the box, are described with said box. Said plunger rests upon yielding sp1-ings WV. It is secured in vertical ways in a suitable manner to the upright frames R. It is operated by the handle V. It is also adapted when pressed down to engage the box U and carry it downward into the pocket f, so as to enable the severed tobaccb to be deposited in said pocket. The springs W rest upon lugs on the end pieces within the box U and are directly attached to the follower. The plunger and the receiving-box are operated together by the independent action of the hand vand not by the action of the treadle and quadrant. The plunger having been pressed down, the metallic slide S will close the open side of the box'next to thefeedbelts, the follower U2 closing the top. The

o engages the cross-bar f1/'2 and closes the shutter.

U is the shutter composingv the bottom of the box U.

V is the plunger.

V is the handle of plunger. i

e represents a rod attached to the pawl e2, adapted to raise said pawl, when pushed, in order to enable the carriage E to be lowered.

We will now describe the operation 'of 'the bunching-apron F in connection with the bunching-roller X2 in the carriage H'. Said apron', as already described, falls down in a cross-slot in the rolling-table, forminga pocket, and as said roller X2 is made to advance over the frame D and table the sides of the apron' at the top of the pocket are brought together, being slightly raised by the spring f', and the apron passes double underthe roller, forminga bght. As'the roller advances, the pocket is raised out of the cross-slot in the table, the bght being continually shortened as the roller advances until the bght will entirely disappear. rlhe tobacco, being now under the apron at the matrix, will be forced into the mold by the said roller as the slack of the apron disappears, and on the return of the roller the apron will fall into its normal position.

ICO

XVe will now describe the manner andmode of packing the tobacco and placingit between the feed-bells. It has already been seen that the mechanism denominated the packer consista-essentially, of two parts G and G', one end being closed, the'endpiece being secured in the bottom half G, so that the cover G is free to slide over it. To begin the pack' ing, the cover G is slid longitudinally nearly olf from the bottom G-say to within two inches of the closed endand the leaf-t0- baccois broken across bottom-G from side to side and carefully packed in the space be tween the bottom and cover back to the end piece, cover G being advancedas the packing progresses, the filling always running 'erosswise of the packer and lengthwise of the leaf until the packer. is entirely filled. The frame C should now be raised and stood up out of the way and the packer turned upon its hinges and laid over upon the lower feedbelt G2 in the frame C', the cover G being under and next to thebelt. Cover G is then slipped longitudinally from beneathand bottom Gis turned back, leaving the tobacco upon the belt. Now bring downv the frame() IIO #ter S, as described.

i Maese and the tobaccowill be held between the feed-belts.

lVe will now follow the tobacco and explain the process in plaein g the rolled cigar orcigarbunch in the matrices. Press down the treadle I and the tobacco will be fed onto the cuttingledge Y and into the receiving or feed box U and severed by the vertical reciprocating eut- The pressure being removed from the treadle, the weight M brings all the parts back to their normal positions. The plunger V is then pressed down by hand and the severed tobacco in the receiving or feed box is deposited in the pocket f, and said box and plunger are allowed to come back to their normal positions, as described. The operator now places a binder upon the rolling-apron slightly in front of the pocket f and again presses down the treadle. This time the severed ltobacco in the pocket'will be rolled and deposited in the matrix, as described, and the tobacco between the feedbelts will have been fed and severed, as before. The operator now deposits the severed tobacco in the pocket by pressing down the' plunger and places a binder upon the rollingapron, as described, and presses down the treadle, and so alternately operatingr the paris, first the plunger and receiving-box, then the tread-le untilall the tobacco between the belts has been rolled, the carriage E being raised each ti me the treadle makes a downward movement, so as to present a matrix for the cigar or cigar-bunch.

Having fully described our invention, what .we claim as new, and desire to secure 'by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a cigar-bunching machine. the combination of the frames having belt-supporting rollers,the upper one being adapted to be elevated, the feeding-belts arranged upon the rollers, the packer arranged to have its contents dumped upon the lower feed-belt, a reciprocating cntter,'the vertically-moving receiving-box,the follower in said box, the sliding shutter, and means, substantially as described, for opening and closing the shutter.

2. The eombinatipn of the packer, suitable feeding-belts, a reciprocatingcutter, the vertically-moving receiving-box having a vertically-sliding bottom or shutter guided in its side slots, and means for elevating the box and for operating the shutter, the apron, and the bunehing-roller, as set forth.

3. The combination of the packer having a sliding cover, the device conformingin crosssection to the contour of a cigar, suitable feedbelts, the upper one being carried by a pivoted frame, a cutter at the inner end of the feed-belts, a vertically-sliding receiving-box having an independent and vertically-sliding bottom or shutter,a follower,a slide arranged as set forth, and suitable bunch-rolling mechanism.

i. A receiving-box for a cigar-machine, arranged to slide vertically after receiving its charge, consisting, essentially, of three principal parts, constituting the receptacle, the side parts provided with vertical and curved guide-slots, a jointed sliding bottom arranged in the slide-slots,in combination with means for elevating the box and independent and separate means for opening and closing the bottom, as set forth.

5. r1`he combination of the vertically-reciprocating receiving-box U, having the independent sliding bottom U, the parts u of which are jointed and adapted to slide in the curved guide-slots of the box, the followerin the box, means for elevating the box, means for opening and closing the bottom, a rollingapron, a reciprocating bunehing-roller, and a mold E, arranged as described.

6. The combination of the feed-belts arranged on frames C C', the former being vertically adjustable and articulated, a packer having a sliding cover and of a contour in cross-section to that of a cigar, a verticallysliding cutter, the vertically-sliding receivingbox U, having a sliding bottom U', a follower in the box, a slide for closing the open side of the box, means for elevating the box and -openingaud closing the bottom independently thereof, the apron, a bunching roller, and the mold, as set forth.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

' GEORGE L. IVESTMAN.

JOSEPH DELARUE. I'Yitnesses: M. R. LLOYD, JAS. MACDOUGALL. 

